DETROIT -- Not everyone can be a standout in the playoffs. Occasionally, there needs to be a few duds.

And, given the Detroit Tigers' offensive struggles this postseason, there were a handful of underachievers that stuck out like a sore thumb.

Here's a list of five Tigers players that failed to live up to expectations this postseason. The top five overachievers will be released later today Wednesday.

5. Alex Avila

Give credit where credit is due: Avila played through pain in Games 1 and 3 of the World Series. A lot of pain. A foul tip struck his right wrist and it didn't take long for serious swelling and inflammation to render it useless. That said, the injury didn't occur until the Fall Classic, the final round. It doesn't excuse his poor offensive output in the ALDS and ALCS, which saw him hit a combined .227 with 10 strikeouts in 22 at-bats.

4. Gerald Laird

Statistically speaking, Laird was arguably the worst of the worst as he pieced together only one hit in 20 at-bats. The lone hit, a single, occurred in Game 1 of the ALCS. It mattered little as Austin Jackson, the next batter, hit into an inning-ending double play. It's a tough way for Laird, an impending free agent, to end his season with Detroit. He batted .282 this season and proved to be a bargain for the Tigers, signing a one-year deal for a cheap $1 million.

3. Miguel Cabrera

It's tough to declare Cabrera a bust in the playoffs. His eight RBIs fell one shy of team-leader Delmon Young. His .265 average was third-best on the team and his .368 on-base percentage was tied with Austin Jackson for tops on the team. But when a player wins the Triple Crown, a higher bar with higher expectations is automatically set. And, after hitting a less-than mediocre .231 with four strikeouts in 16 at-bats in the World Series, it's fair to say Cabrera fell short of meeting those goals.

2. Prince Fielder

Of all the Tigers that struggled at the plate this postseason, none were more apparent than Fielder. Whether it was a four-seamer or a curveball, if it was off the plate, chances are Fielder chased it. In 52 at-bats, Fielder could only muster nine hits and only one that went for extra bases. The worst part? The troubles came to a head in the World Series when the Tigers needed him most. He batted 0.71 in the Fall Classic with four strikeouts in 14 dismal at-bats.

1. Jose Valverde

It was tough to watch. Not only did Valverde lose his closer role amid a playoff meltdown, but he likely cost himself millions of dollars on the free-agent market. It's unclear what type of contract Valverde is seeking this offseason, but it'll be hard to justify a multi-year deal after he posted a 30.37 ERA in four postseason appearances. Sure, Valverde converted 110 of 118 save opportunities in his three seasons with the Tigers, but he has shown recent signs of decline and baseball has always been a what-have-you-done-for-me-now sport. His agent, Scott Boras, certainly has his work cut out for him.